‘Bachelorette’ Andi Dorfman Opens Up About Contestant Eric Hill’s Death

‘Bachelorette’ Andi Dorfman shared her thoughts on the recent death of Eric Hill, one of the tenth season’s contestants. The tragic loss occurred on April 23 when Eric’s parachute malfunctioned while paragliding in Utah.

“When I heard the news, I was devastated,” Andi told PEOPLE. “Shock, devastation, grief. It’s something you never could have predicted [or] expected.”

She continued, “I had just seen him. He was a member of our cast and we had an inherent bond. The [other contestants] shared that bond too. It was shocking and devastating to all of us and it’s still a tough thing that we’re going through.”

‘The Bachelorette’ is set to premiere on Monday, May 19, and the TV network has decided to leave the episodes as is, choosing not to edit Eric out of the season. He had already been voted off the show as a suitor at the time of the accident, but he clearly made an impression on Andi.

“I will always remember Eric’s love for life,” she said. “People say, ‘Oh, he lived life to the fullest.’ But Eric really was the epitome of someone who lived life to the fullest. This man had amazing stories and great experiences. His sense of adventure inspired not only me, but every guy in the house, every producer, every crew member. Everybody says they want to do stuff in their life but he was really doing it.”

It sounds like Eric was a great guy with a big impact, and who will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.